Band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. S. FELLOWS.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES.

No. 467,464. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. S. FELLOWS.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES.

No. 467,464. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

0-. s. FELLOWS. EAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES. No. 467,464. Patented Jan. 19, 1892'.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheefis-Sheet 4. v

-0. S. FELLOWS. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES. No. 467,464. Patented Jan. 19, 1892..

Maw/cases: Inventvr:

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFIC OZRO S. FEIJLOIVS, OF BEDFORD, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID COY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

BAND-CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR TH RASHING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,464, dated January 19, 1892.

Application filed August 6, 1886. $erial No. 210,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OZRO S. FELLOWS, a citizen'of the United States, and a resident of Bedford, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Band-Cutters and Feeders for Thrashing-lVIachines, of which the following is so full, clear, and exact a description as will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to band-cutters and feeders for thrashing-machines; and it consists in certain peculiarities in the construction, arrangement, and combinations of the various parts thereof, substantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

The object of my invent-ion is to furnish a simple and effective attachment to thrashingmachines, which will quickly convey the bound bundles of grain from any adjacent point on the mow, stack, or load to the thrasher and sever the bands of said bundles in their passage to the thrasl'iing-machine.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of myimproved feeder and band-cutter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing the interior construction thereof. Fig. 3 is a partial-front end view of the same and shows the means for operating the endless carrier. Fig. 4. is a detail view of afolding platform onto which the grain is fed when the bands'serving to retain the same in bundles have been severed. Fig. 5 is a perspective of my improved band-cutter and feeder attached to a thrashing-machine, and shows the means of such attachment and also mechanism for starting and stopping the operation of the cutter and feeder without interfering with the operation of the thrasher. Fig. 6 is an end view showing the folding platform attached at one end to the carrierbox and at its opposite end to the thrashingmachine. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of one of the bundle-carrier forks detached.

The same letters and figures of reference are used to designate the same parts in the several figures.

m designates the frame of my improved band-cutter and feeder, which frame is open at its bottom and provided with transverse bracing-bars n, situated suitable distances apart along its length and commencing from points near its opposite extremities. As a means for further strengthening this frame m, I have adopted a truss-rod D, located near one side thereof and having its opposite end secured to those bracing-bars n, which are located nearest the ends of the frame, while its central or lowermost portion is suitably sprung over and secured to a projection d, depending from the central bracing-bar n, all of which is clearly shown in Fig. 2. It has been found from practical experience that such a truss gives the requisite amount of strength to the device and at the same time adds very little to its weight. For this reason I prefer it to any other known means of bracing; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to its use. At the ends of this frame m are located sprocketwheels 0 O, which are fixed on horizontal shafts having their bearings in the sides of said frame. These sprocket-wheels receive their motion from any suitable motive power through the intermediate gearing hereinafter described, and they operate the endless carrier B, which is provided with forks E, hereinafter described. They are made sufficiently large to project down into a trough F, which is attached by any suitable means to the frame m, and up through the top of said frame into a carrier-box A, and it therefore follows that the endless carrier B, above referred to, occupies a portion of the space along the bottom of the box A and a portion of the interior of the trough F. This trough F is open at its top, is longer but narrower than the frame or, and projects slightly beyond the delivery end 2 of the same and is designed to catch any of the grain which may be carried along by the forks E after the bands of the bundles have been severed. To prevent liability of the straw falling into said trough through the opening in the top of the front end. 1 of the device I provide a guard G, which for the sake of lightness may be constructed in the form of a fork having its prongs g projecting over said opening. This guard is pivotally secured at its outer edge to permit it to be readily raised, in order to give access to the trough 'F at this point, when" it vis desired .to clean the same.

At suitable distances apart along the length of the chair B are hinged the bundle-carrier forks E above referrred to, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 7 Each of these forks is made of wire or other suitable metal, and from one of its prongs e said wire projects forwardly a suitable distance and rearwardly to the place of commencement, (forming the projection e,) from which point it is bent at a right angle and passes through a loop I). on the carrier-chain and thence upward to form the other prong. The forwardly-projecting portions 6 of these forks E are made heavy Jenouglr to overbalance said fo-rks,-,- so that whenthe latter 'reaclrthedelivery end 2 t "-thezdevice,'atwhich time the bands ofthe bundles they; carry willbe severed, the weight I of suchendsof the forks will causesaid prongs to'@ drop and: swing downward parallel with and prone on the chair, which movement of the prongs is assisted: and vrenderedpositive bytheifactzthattheir prongs e w-illxstrikethe.

end ofi-the trough Fandride: downgthe-in- 'clined plane formed bycurvingthisend of.

said trough inwardand downward,:as shown.

' The" forks thusautoniaticallyrelease themonto a-platform N, hereinafter described, and

selvesfrom= the unbound graimwvhich, falls isp'ushed along'the-same by the movement of thezgrain; which is being rapidly delivered at I :t'his'point to-the thrashing-machine.

' 5 forks, when released from the unbound grain,

-. The

:a-passforwardly through the trough E to the .3 front end of the same, at which point their 1 i-tpo'rtions e engage and ride up. ana inclined- ::pl ane,-.formed by acurved strip P, which is located bcsidethe. sprocket-wheel O and pro- ---ljects into theopening 19,-which automatically --returns s'aid prongs to a vertical position and forciblythruststhem into the bundles fed to :thecarriern The prongs of the forks EIare ing. through the box A and thereby prevented rigidly held in an upright position whilepassfrom releasing themselves from the bundles ofgrain before the bands of the same have been severedand the unbound grain delivered.

' at-theend of the carrier by means of lugs or 1 cars 0 ,'which extend laterally from the car- I rier-chainand prevent, upward movement of the weighted ends 6- of the forks E, itbeing of course understood that downward move-. =ment ofsaidends of the .forks will be pre-;

vented by the bottom of the box A.

L designatesthe band-severin g knife, which issecured to the bottom of the box A in the 'path of the bundles. This knife is preferably made substantially of the form shown,

'anditsupper outer edge or pointZ is the cutting-surface.

lnorder that the band will be brought positively into contact with the cutting-edge of this knife, Ihave provided atriangular piece M and a toothed wheel K.

This triangular piece M is located beneath the-cutting-point of the knife L, and said toothed wheel is so located that its teeth will project up through a slot formed in the bottom of the box A, immediately to the rear of and in line with said triangular piece. WVhen the bundle of grain reaches this triangular piece M, itrides up the surface thereof and is grasped by the teeth of the wheel-K and fed by said wheel to the band-severing knife, reaching the same in an inclined position, whereby the entrance beneath the band of the cutting-point of the knife is facilitated,

when further rearward motion of the bun-' dles causes severance of said bands, as is obvious.

The carrier-box A is formed by the two leaves a a'and the top of the frame m of my device. These. leaves a a. are each semi-cylindricalinshape and are hinged a suitable distance. apart to ,the .top ofIQsaid -frame, so

1 that :they. can be folded together. Wh et the device 'isnot in .use,and when so, jt'oldedthey will form a. cylinder, rendering the device Verycompact, Whichis a mattrofprimeimportance, in. transportation, and atthe same time protecting the feeding and severing devices. from the...ru ino u's influence ot. the weather.

A. means,- .for operating the. serrat ed or toothed wheel K, and. thejsprocket-wheels G 05, and through them thQbugd1 -f edi v Vices, l OWbe described. Q'designates f te.co. pris lig. the .uP-

rights q qand. the horizontal and inclined strips (1 and (1. respectively. ,The uprights q q. arepivotally: seGured'together preferably by means of, the hooks 5. and chain 6 shown, so as torpermit the frame to ,be swung laterally, whendesired. V This frame isdesigned to be secured to the thrashing-machine by neans of hooks. or. other suitable neans.

Passing horizontally through thenpright q is a rod or shaft R, terminating in the diverging arms r andcarrying a pulley Rt which is connected by a belt ql 'witlr a pulley R" mounted onthe main or operating shaft R'. Extending toward. these curved armsr, and at right angles thereto, is another pair of diverging, arms 15, and located between these arms rand t is a ball S, which issupported from said arms by pins 3, thereby.furn ishing at this point a, universal joint. The arms 25 are formedon the rear extremity ofa shaft T, which extends forward a short distance withina tube U.. This tube U has a sleeve U secured to its upper end, and saidsleeve terminates in the diverging arms UF, the extremities of which are formed with. lugs or projections U which are received "within openings formed in arms U depending from opposite sides of the frame on. Thesellugs or projections U are perforated and form, bearings for a horizontal shaft 00, the ends of which pass through said perforations, and they also form pivots or journals on which the framem and'parts carried thereby can be raised or lowered to adjust the angle of inclination. Mounted near one end of this shaft 00 and carried thereby is a beveled geanwheel or, which intermcshes with abeveled gear-wheel h, fixed on the upper extremity of a vertical shaft H, which passes through the sleeve U into the tube U. On reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the tube U is bent at about its center in the arc of a circle, and that within such bent portion is located a coiled spring V, to the opposite ends of which the forward and lowermost ends of the shafts T and 1-1,

respectively, are secured, thus forming a flexible shaft.

V designates a sprocket-wheel, which is mounted on the shaft 00 and is connected by an endless chain 8' (see Fig. 2) with a sprocketwheel V fixed on the shaft of the sprocketwheel G,-and a sprocket-wheel V fixed on the The platform N above referred to is made in sections N, hinged together, and one of its ends is secured to one leaf of the carrierbox A and its other end to the thrasher, as shown in Fig. 6. As above stated, the unbound grain is fed onto this platform, and as the end sections of said platform are folded into a vertical or inclined position they obviouslyserve as a guide for said unbound grain in its passage from the carrier-box A to the thrasher.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that perfect movabilit-y of my entire device in every direction is secured, the purpose and advantages of which are obvious.

The operation of my device is as follows: The swinging frame and the folding platform having been properly attached to the thrashing-machine and motion given to the operating mechanism described, the bundles are fed to the receiving end of the carrier near the wheel C. The under side of said receiving end of the carrier is allowed to rest upon the bundles of grain or any other convenient support. As the bundles fall on the endless carrier, they strike on the upwardly-extending prongs of the forks which are constantlyandrapidlyrisingatthispoint. These prongs take firm hold of the bundles, by reason of the vise-like grasp in which their weighted ends are held, between the bottom of the box A and the lugs or ears 0 of the endless carrier, thus firmly maintaining, as described, an upright position of said prongs throughout their forward movement and until the bundle comes in contact with and rises upward on the triangular piece M, and the projecting point of the stationary knife L engages with the inside of the band, while the outer side is brought in contact with and engages the teeth of the serrated revolving wheel K, which, it is proper to here state, may, if desired, be formed with cutting-eyes. The bands are thus severed, and the now unbound grain passes out of the carrier-box at the same time that the forks are released there from by the weights of the portions 6 thereof or when their points strike the end of the trough F. As the thrashing progresses, the receiving end of the carrier-frame is raised or lowered, or moved from side to side, or the whole device shifted to the opposite side of the thrashing-machine and onto another adjacent mow, stack, or load.

In Fig.5 I have shownameans whereby the operation of my device may be started and stopped without affecting the operation of the thrasher. This means consists of alever 3 to be operated by the hand or foot and fulcru med at i to the thrasher. At its rear end this lever is provided with a pulley i and a weight 2", said pulley engaging and taking up the slack of the endless belt "6 which is of such length that when not engaged by said pulley c' it will not transmit motion from the main. or driving pulley R to the pulley R.

I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction herein described, as many modifications will readily suggest themselves to those persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. For instance, an inclined serrated knife with a compression wheel or cylinder above it may be substituted for the cutting-knife L, the said serrated knife being pivoted to rise and fall at the proper time, and intermeshing beveled gear-wheels may be located within the tube U as a substitute for the flexible shaft.

Having now described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. In a bundle-carrier and band-cutter for thrashing-machines, the laterally-swinging frame and shafts, as T and R, connected by a universal joint, in combinationwith a vertical shaft, as H, operated by the shaft T i and having a bevel gear-wheel at its upper end,

a sleeve through which said shaft passes, an endless carrier, sprocket wheels operating said endless carrier, a horizontal shaft, as m, a bevel gear-Wheel thereon intermeshing with the bevel gear-wheel on shaft IT, a sprocket wheel V, also mounted on said shaft w, a sprocket-wheel V on the shaft of one of the sprocket-wheels operating the endless carrier, and an endless chain connecting said sprocket-wheels V and V all substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame and feeding mechanism supported thereby, said frame having depending perforated arms, of means for operating said feeding mechanism and a vertical sleeve through which passes a portion of said operating mechanism, said sleeve having diverging arms formed with, lugs received by the perforations in said depending arms and forming a pivoted joint whereby the angle of inclination of the sup- IIO porting-frame can be changed, substantially asdescl'ibed. i 1 7;. 3.. In-aband-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machinesalaterally-swinging,frame designed to-be secured to the thrashing-machines, operating-shafts, asTandR, connected together. by. a universal joint-, and, a sleeve having diverging-arms formed with lugs, ,in combinationwithaframe supportingthe entting and feedingdevices and arms depending from said frame and having perforations for, the receptionrof thelngs of saididiv erg- 1 in garms, a! shaft,- as; T, also 1 having divergzo ing arins, and ;a ball, ass, supported from 7 andibetween said diverging ,ar ns, as ie- :soribed, ,with means, connecting,- the feeding ,mechanism with vsaid shaft .1, all substan M tially-, as described, and for the p urposes specified. 1 i.

5.- The combination, in a band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines, of a laterallyqsvyinging, frame, as Q,designed to be secured ,to the, thrashing-machine, shafts, as T, and R, connected} togethenbv a universal ,joint, a frame, as m, pivoted at its rearend, feeding, and cutting devices, and means operating said feeding devices fromsaid shaft/1, all,s ib 5. stantially as described, andfor the purposes specified.;; -,6 .In a band-cutter and feeder for thrashingnachines, the combination, with a carrier-frame and an endless carrier provided i-with forks, of sprocket-wheels engaged by,

said endless carrier and atrough located be-.-

neath said frame and havinginclinedends in z the path of saidforks,

- 7.,,The'co1nbination,with a frame having an .frame, curved leaveshingedto the top thereframe in line with said opening, of sprocketopening not occupied by said sprocket-wheel,-

snbstantially as and for the purposes set forth,

8. ;In a band-cutterand feeder for thrash ingmachines, the t combination, with ,the

of, and a trough attached to the underside 1 of said frame, of-an, endless cari'iei'traveling between said leaves and through said, trough and means-for operating said carrier.

9. In a-band-outter and feeder for thrashing-machines,,an endless carrier hai ing lugs ,orears, forks pivoted on. said carrier and having weightedends, and a band-severing knife, all arranged and combinedto operate or ears and forks pivoted on said carrier and substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

10. In a band-cutter and feeder for thrashing machines, an endless carrier having lugs band-severing knife and an inclined plane he e adi c tit aid kn e in. the P t the'b n li ln a band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines, the combination, with an end less carrier and forks pivoted thereon and having iveighted ends, of a band-severing knife, an inclined plane located infront of said knife, anda toothed or serratedwheel located to the rear of said inclined plane.

12. In a. band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines, the combination vith the feedin gmechanism, of a band-severingkhife havin g forwardly-projectingcutting point and an'inclin'ed plane'in front of said knifei 13. Ina band-cutter 'and'feeder for thrashin g machines, the combination, With the feeding mechanism, aband-severingknife'havti e; a,forwa yp qi t ns.sl tt n -ho s an inclined plane in front of I said 7 knife in the of the grain, and a serrated iviieel at ,th'e'rearf o'f said inclined plane: v

1 4, Inaband-cuttei' andlffe de'r for'thrashing-n achines, an endless carrier having lugs vided with wei hted I ends; and jfspro'cketvvheels engaged by said carrienfinfeombina tio th a a d ver ngnl i h ifisf f ,w lzd -r 'ei ines n ro n ;a'i th d or serrated vheel located beneath sail cuttingpoint, and an, inclined plane? located front .Dfsaid wheel, Q a ,1 15. Illh'e combination, Withthefra'm'e', 'endless carrier, and band-severing knife, of semicylindrical leaves hinged to the top ofsaid frame and formingwhen folded a cylinder inclosing said carrier and 'ivhen'open' guides oee e i a 1,6. The combination, with the frame and endless trayelingcarrier, of a band-severing knife andan inclined planesecured' tofithe top of said frame and semi-cylindrical leaves hinged tothe top of said frame aridfolding together to form a cylinde'r' inclosing' said carrier,.knife, and inclinedplane, and serving h ev a a u d or hee-r m; 17, The combination, in a band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines,of the frame, endless carrier, and band-severing knife, with a vertical shaft having a beveled gear- ;shaft, a horizontal shaft havingnear one end ,a' beveled gear-.vvheel in termeshing ivit'li that carried by said verticalshaft," a' s'p'r'ocketwheel near the other end of said shaft, a "serrated wheel mounted on, a s'haft adjacent to ,said band-severing knife, a sprocket-Wheel mounted. on the shaft of said serrated wheel, andan endless chain connecting saidsprocket-Wheel and thesprocketvvheelon thehorizontalshaft. i

p ,1 8, The combination, in a band-cutterand feeder forthrashing-machines, of the frame, endless carrier, sprocket-wheels engaged by said endless, carrier, and a small sprocket V mounted on the shaft of one of said larger v or earsforkspivotedon said ioa 'rierandprd.

.Wheelat its top, mean'srfor operating said having Weighted ends, in combination with a I oot sprocket-wheels, with a vertical shaft, means for operating the same, a bevel gear-wheel at the upper extremity of said vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft carrying a bevel gear-Wheel intermeshing with that on said vertical shaft, a sprocket-wheel V also mounted on said horizontal shaft, and an endless chain engaging sprocket-wheels V and V 19. The combination, in a band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines, of the frame, endless carrier, sprocket-wheels C O, engaged by said endless carrier, a sprocket-wheel V mounted on the shaft of sprocket-wheel O, and band-severing means, with a vertical shaft, means for operating said shaft, a horizontal shaft driven from saidvertical shaft and carrying a sprocket-wheel V a serrated wheel mounted on a shaft adjacent to said band-severing knife, a sprocket-wheel V mounted beside said serrated wheel, and an endless traveling chain engaging said spurwheels V, V and V 20. An endless traveling carrier having lugs or cars, in combination with forks pivoted on said carrier and provided with projections engaged by said ears.

21. The combination, with the supportingframe, of an endless carrier having forks, a band-severing knife, and an inclined plane located adjacent to said knife in the path of the grain.

22. The combination, with the supportingframe, of an endless carrier having forks, a band-severing knife, an inclined plane located in front of said knife, and a serrated wheel located at the rear of the inclined planes.

23. In combination with means for feeding and severing the bands of grain, an inclined plane located adjacent to the band-severing devices and a serrated wheel located adjacent to said inclined plane.

2i. In a band-cutter and feeder for thrashing-machines, a main frame and band-cutting devices, in combination with an endless carrier passing over the rear edge of said frame, pivoted forks on said endless carrier, said forks having weighted portions, as described, whereby when they reach the rear end of the frame such weighted portions will slack in an endless belt which loosely connects the drive-pulley on the thrashing-machine with the driven pulley of the operating mechanism of the bandcutter and feeder, substantially as described.

26. The combination, with athrashing-machine and band-cutter and feeder, of a foldin g platform secured at one end to the thrasher and at its opposite end to the frame of the band-cutter and feeder, said platform comprising a series of hinged sections, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto set my hand this 19thday of July, A. D. 1886.

OZRO S. FELLOWS.

Witnesses:

FRANK W. CLAPP, FRANK G. REYNOLDS. 

